Kanpur/IBNS: Hours after 20 coaches of the Sabarmati Express derailed near Kanpur, the initial probe has indicated a conspiracy after it found that a huge boulder was placed on the track leading to the accident, media reports said.

As per the report, the train derailed after the engine hit an 'object placed on the track'.

While the train derailment took place around 2.35 AM, a Patna-Indore train crossed uninterrupted at 1:20 AM on the same track, Railway Board officials said.

The Railways reported that seven trains were cancelled and three others were diverted following the derailment.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the Intelligence Bureau and Uttar Pradesh police are investigating the incident. He also mentioned that arrangements are being made to ensure the passengers can continue their journeys.

In a post on X, Vaishnaw said, "The engine of Sabarmati Express (Varanasi to Amdavad) hit an object placed on the track and derailed near Kanpur at 02:35 am today. Sharp hit marks are observed. Evidence is protected. IB and UP police are also working on it. No injuries to passengers or staff. Trains were arranged for passengers on their onward journey to Amdavad."

Earlier, Police Commissioner, Kanpur, Akhil Kumar, said the loco pilot informed the police that he had seen something on the tracks from a distance and he immediately applied the emergency brakes that resulted in the derailment. However, he could not elaborate on what he saw.

Kumar said that no FIR had been lodged in this connection till Saturday evening as the police had not received a written complaint from the railways so far.

"A piece of iron which was allegedly placed on the tracks resulting in train derailment has been found about 70 to 80 yards away from the incident site and no dragging signs were there," the police commissioner said.

Railway Board officials are investigating the possible involvement of miscreants or anti-social elements, as initial findings suggest that the train's engine may have struck an object deliberately placed on the tracks.

The report indicated that foreign material was near the 16th coach of the train.

According to the officials, the extent of the damage to the engine's cattle guard indicates that it collided with this foreign object, leading to the derailment.

Sabarmati Express was set ablaze in 2002 triggering the Gujarat riots

Sabarmati Express was the train targeted in Godhra in 2002.

Fifty-nine kar sevaks (Hindu religious volunteers) were killed after a coach of the Sabarmati Express was set ablaze in February 2002, triggering one of the worst communal riots of the country.

The victims included 27 women and 10 children. Injuries were suffered by another 48 passengers on the train.